Air conditioning apparatus



3 vShee''s-Slxeet l c. B. cooK INVENTOR. CB. COD/ May 14, 1935.

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Original Filed April 2, 1934 May 14,1935. C, B COOK 2,001,410

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Original Filed April 2, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENOR.

COOK.

May 14, 1935. c. B. COOK AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed April 2, 1954 INVENTOR. C. B. COK

`Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Charles B. Cook, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 2, 1934, serial No. '118,619

Renewed April 12, 1935 11 Claims.

This invention relates to air conditioning apparatus. V

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved compact and eflicient structure for use in conditioning large volumes of air.

Another object of the invention. is to provide a novel combined air conditioning apparatus and heater. j

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved rotary member for use in an air conditioning apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for.controlling the ow of air through an air conditioning apparatus,

Other objects and the advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan View of my device with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing means to simultaneously control the shutters;

Fig. 6 is an elevation showing the thermostat; and,

Fig.7 is a sectional detail showing a modication of my'invention. l

Referring to the drawings by reference characters I have shown my invention as embodied in an 'air conditioning apparatus which is indicated generally at I0. As shown the device includes a body II having legs I2 thereon at one end. At the other end the body is supported on a re box I3 which includes a bottom I4, end. walls I5 and side walls I6.

The body consists of a suitable bottom I1, sides I8, end walls I9, hinged top 20 which includes a pivoted closure 20. At one end the body is provided with a centrifugal blower 2l which is driven by a motor 22. An inlet duct 23 extends from the blower and is connected to an outer duct 24 with a removable screen 25 between the ducts.

A partition member 26 partially surrounds the `blower and from one end of the partition 2G a diagonal partition 21 extends to the top 20.

An second partition member indicated generally at 23 includes a portion 29 parallel to the portion 21, a horizontal portion 30 and a vertical portion -3I. The portion 29 is joined by a curved portion 32 to a horizontal portion 33, which joins another curved portion 34 and merges into an upwardly v extending portion 35.

The rear wall I9 includes a horizontal portion l36 which is in line with the horizontal portion 30.

outside of the wall 35. The portion 36 is curved upwardly as at 44 to a straight portion 45 which is parallel to but is spaced outwardly from the vertical portion 33.

The portions 43 and 45 are joined by plane portions 46 and 41, which extend parallel to and are spaced outwardly from the portions 39 and 40. It will thus be seen that there is a duct 48 which is arranged outside of and surrounding the duct 4I and that the duct 4I communicates with the passageway, which I havev designated A and which is a heat transfer chamber and is between the bottom I1 and the portion 33 and that the duct 48 communicates through a. chamber B with a passageway C.

Within the chamber B I mount a shaft 49 which has "a sprocket 59 thereon which is driven by a chain 5I from a sprocket 52, which is on a shaft 53 driven by the motor 22.

On the shaft 49 I arrange a plurality of disks 54 and spacers 55. The disks 54 are peripherally spaced as at 55'. The disks 54 are arranged between the walls I9 and 3I and between the walls 4 I8 which are joined to these walls I9 and 3l and to the bottom 33 to form a tank D which in operation contains water in which the lower portions of disks 54 are immersed. The upper portions of the disks 54 are positioned between walls 56 and 51 which together with the top 20 forms the chamber B. l

The bottom ofthe tank D is perforated and re-` ceives a plurality of tubes 5B which extend downwardly and pass through the bottom I1. These tubes 58 aiord communication between the tank D and a tank E whichA is in the upper portion of the nre-box I3. A plurality of fire-tubes 59 pass from the nre-box 'I3 through the tank E to a heater 50 which extends horizontally and which communicates with a vertically extending stack The tubes 58 have a plurality of heat transfer ns 62 thereon. The tubes 53 andthe/fins 52 form a heat exchange chamber While the cer B provides a humidifying chamber.

arm 85 engages The amount of air passing into the humidifying `chamber B is controlled by a plurality of shutters 63 which are pivoted as at 64 and which are operably connected together by a member 65 so that they move in unison. Similarly, the exit from the humidifying chamber B is controlled by shutters 66, which are pivoted as at 61 and which are linked together by a member 68 for movement in unison.

Passage through the conduit A is controlled by a plurality of shutters 69 which are pivoted as at and which are connected by a member 1| to move in unison.

In order to return a portion of the air which has passed through the humidifying chamber B back to the inlet duct 23 I provide a pipe 12 which at one end communicates with the inlet duct 23 and which communicates at the other end with an elbow 13 which enters the humidifying chamber B adjacent the shutters 66.

The pipe 12 includes a damper 14, which has a shaft 15 on which arm 16 is mounted. The arm 16 includes a slot 11 in which a pin 18 on a link 19 is mounted. The link 19 is pivotally connected to another link which is secured on one of the shafts 61 of the shutters 66 and the construction is such that When the link 80 is rocked to close the shutters 66 the damper 14'is opened and when the shutters 66 are opened the damper is closed.

In order to rock the link 80 this link is connected to a link 8|, which is connected to the core 82 of a reversible solenoid device which includes coils 83 and 84. The solenoid device is adapted to be operated by a thermostat which includes a thermal responsive arm 85, which is adapted in one position to engage a contact 86 and in another positionengages a contact 81. The arm is connected by a lead 88 to a battery 89,.which is in turn connected by a lead 90 to a pivoted contact arm 9| which is adapted to engage spaced contacts 92 and 93. is connected by a Wire 94 to the coil 84 and the coil 84 is connected by a wire 9l5 to the contact 86, the contact 93 is connected by a wire 96 to the coil 83 which is connected by a wire 91 to the contact 81.

Construction is such that when the circuit is completed through the arm 85 the contact 86, and arm 9| and contact 92 the coil 84 will be energized, thereby moving the core 82 and rocking the arm 80, also the arm 9| will move so that it engages the contact 93.

When the temperature changes so that the the contact 81 the core 83 will be energized thus rocking the arm 80 in a reverse direction.

My apparatus may function either for heating or cooling and I shall rst describe it in operation as a cooling unit.

Warm air of normal humidity is drawn in through the external inlet duct 24 through the screen 25 and duct 23 to the blower 2| whence it is forced towards the humidifying chamber B and the heat transfer chamber A. The amount of air flowing through the humidifying chamber B is.control1ed by the shutters 66, the shutters 69 being fully opened.

The disks 54 are rotated by the blower motor as described. Thus the surface of the disks within the humidifying chamber B are kept wet and a large area of water surface is exposed to the air current within providing opportunity for maximum evaporation. Evaporation occurs and this evaporation from the surface of the water on the plates 54 causes the remaining water to drop The contact 92 in temperature and will mix with and reduce the temperature of the water in tank D, to approximately the wet bulb tempera-ture of the incoming air.

The rotation of the disks 54 causes circulation of the water in tank D, tubes 58 and re tube chamber E. 'I'he air exhausted from the humidifying chamber has an increased moisture content and a reduced temperature. 'I'he level of the water in the tank C is maintained constant by means of float valve |00 shown as arranged in an auxiliary tank |0| which has a pipe |02 communicating with the tank D. The tank |0| has an overflow |03.

'I'he amount of air flowing from the blower to the heat transfer chamber A is controlled by the shutters 69 which are, for cooling, normally open.

As the air passes around the tubes 58 and the fins 62 heat is transferred through the tubes and fins to the water which has been previously cooled as explained above.

The cool air discharged from the heat exchange chamber 21 is conducted to the area to be cooled by the duct 39. The duct 39 is within the duct 48 and is therefore surrounded by the cooled wet air discharged from humidifying chamber B. 'Ihus the cold air in duct 39 may be conducted with maximum eiiciency.

When the device is used as a heating unit the blower again scribed. The shutters 63 however may be now in their closed position which position does not completely obstruct passageway and a small now of air is permitted into the humidifying chamber B. The shutters 66 are now completely closed and the air passes into the pipe 12 which conducts humidified air -back to the intake duct 23 of the blower. As described the pipe 12 has a damper 14 which is coupled with the shutters 66 so that when the shutters 66 are closed the damper is in its open position and vic'e versa. The open position 0f the damper may be adjusted to control the amount of humidied air returning to the intake duct 23.

'I'he air flows through the shutters 69 into the heat exchange chamber A where it absorbs heat from the tubes and fins which are heated by the water. A burner |05 in the fire box |3 heats the water in the chamber E the gaseous products of combustion being carried 01T through the heater 60 and stack 6|. 'Ihe air discharged from the heat exchange chamber is conducted through the duct 4|.

The air stream from the blower 2| strikes the disks 54 so that the tendency is to cause the disks to rotate .counter-clockwise but the chain 5| is driven so that the disks rotate clockwise. This causes the water to pile up at the left side of the device in Fig. 2 and thus a head is created causing the circulation to be down at the left of the radiator in Fig. 2 and up at the right. This presents the coldest water at the left of the radiator and therefor the air passing over the radiator is gradually cooled. In heating the hottest water is. at the right end of the tank E in Fig. 2 and the result is a circulation which is forced as well as thermal and wherein the circulation is clockwise. The circulation it will thus be seen is in the same direction whether the device is used in heating or for cooling. It will be understood that the column of air passes substantially parallel to the disks 54 although the angle may vary. I thus avoid passing the air column through apertures in the disks.

In the modiiication of my invention shown in draws air and discharges it as de- 1. In a device of the class described, a water circulation system including a member adapted to haveits surface wetted, means to supply water to said surface, a radiator, means whereby water from said surface passes to said radiator, means to pass a column of air over the wetted surface to partially evaporate the wetted surface whereby the remainder of water on the surface is cooled before it passes to the radiator. r

2. In an air conditioning apparatus, a receptacle having an air conditioning chamber therein, a tank in said chamber, a blower having an inlet, means to drive said blower, a passageway extending from said blower to said chamber, means to control communication through said pasageway, a pipe leading from said chamber back to said inlet, a damper insaid pipe and means whereby said control means operates ,said damper.

3. In an air conditioning apparatus, a receptacle having a humidifying chamber therein, and having a heat exchange chamber therein, a tank in said air humidifying chamber, said tank having pipes communicating therewith, said pipes passing to said heat exchange chamber,` a pluraiity of spaced members adapted to be l wetted by water in said tank, a blower, an inlet to said blower, means to drive said blower, a passageway extending from said blower to said humidifying chamber, a duct leading from said humidifying chamber, a second passageway leading from said blower to said heat exchange chamber, a second duct' leading from said heat exchange chamber, said second duct being disposed within and surrounded by said rst duct.

4. In an air conditioning apparatus, a humidifying chamber and heat exchange chamber, a tank in said air conditioning chamber, said tank having pipes communicating therewith, said l pipes passing through said heat exchange chamber, a plurality of spaced members arranged to` be wetted by water in said tank, a blower, means to drive Ysaid blower, a passageway extending from said blower to said humidifying chamber, a duct leading from said humidifying chamber, a passageway leading from said blowergto said heat exchange chamber and a duct leading from said heat exchange chamber. 2

5. In an air conditioning devic an air blower, means to drive said blower, a humidifying chamber, a heat transfer chamber, a water reservoir Nassociated with said humidifying chamber, a plurality of disks mounted to rotate within said humidifying chamber and said water reservoir, means to rotate said disks, a radiator associated with said heat transfer chamber, a wafer tank associated with said radiator, means to circulate water from said water reservoir through said radiator and tank, means] to conduct air from said blower to said humidifying chamber, means Vto conduct air from said blower to said heat transfer chamber, and means to control the flow of air through each chamber. Y

, 6. In an air conditioning device an air blower,

ber, a heat transfer chamber, a watern reservoir mounted below said humidifying chamber, a plurality of disks mounted to rotate within said humidifying chamber and in said water reservoir, means to rotate said disks, a radiatormounted within said heat transfer chamber, a water tank adjacent one end of said radiator, means to circulate water from said water reser-` voir through said radiator and tank back to said reservoir, a re box associated with said water tank, means to conduct air from said blower to said humidifying chamber, means to conduct air from said blower to'said heat transfer chamber, and means to control the flow of air throughI each chamber.

'7. In an air conditioning apparatus, a humidifying chamber and a heat exchange chamber, a tank 'in said air humidifying chamber, said tank having pipes communicating therewith, said pipes passing through said heat exchange chamber, a 'shaft disposed adjacent said humidifying chamber, a plurality of spaced disks on said shaft and arranged to be wetted by water in said tank, means to rotate saidshaft, a blower, means to drive said blower, a passageway extending from said blower to said humidifying chamber, means to control communication through said passageway, a duct leading from said humidifying chamber, a passagewayleading from said blower to said heat exchange chamber means to control the passage through said last mentioned passageway and a duct leading from said heat exchange chamber.

8. In an air conditioning apparatus a heat transfer chamber, a water vaporizing chamber, an air blower, an inlet duct to said blower and air passage leading from the exhaust of said blower to said heat transfer chamber, another air passage leading from the exhaust of the blower to saide water vaporizing chamber, a water reservoir adjacent the bottom of said water vaporizing chamber, a plurality of disks mounted to rotate partially submerged in waterin said water reservoir the exposed portion of said disks extending' upward into said water vaporizing chamber, means to rotate the disks, a radiator mounted within said heat transfer chamber and coupled on one side to said water reservoir and at vaporizing chamber to said blower inlet duct and means to control the flow of feed back duct.

9. l In an air conditioning apparatus, a humidifyingchamber, a heat exchange chamber, a tank in said humidifying chambe said tank having pipescommunicating therewith, said pipes passing through said heat exchange chamber, a tank below said heat exchange chamber, said pipes communicating `with said tank, means to heat said last mentioned tank, a shaft in said humidifying chamber, a plurality oi' .spaced disks on said shaft, said disks being adapted to turn in and to be wetted by water in said first mentioned tank, means to rotate said'disks, a blower in said receptacle, means to drive said blower, a passageway extending from said blower to said air through said humidifying chamber, means to control comr control passage from said humidifying to said duct, a passageway leadingv from said blower to said heat exchange chamber, means to control the passage through said last mentioned passageway and a duct leading from said heat exchange chamber.

10. In an air conditioning apparatus a heat transfer chamber, a water vaporizing chamber, an air blower, an. inlet duct to said blower and air passage leading from the exhaust of said blower to said heat transfer chamber, another air passage leading from the exhaust of the blower to said water vaporizing chamber, a water reservoir adjacent the bottom of said water vaporizing chamber, a plurality of disks mounted to rotate partially submerged in water in said Water reservoir, the exposed portion of said disks extending upward into said Water vaporizingV chamber, means to rotate the disks, a radiator mounted within said heat transfer chamber and coupled on one side to said water reservoir and at another side to a Water tank, means Ato circulate water from said water reservoir through said' radiator to said tank and back to the water reservoir, means to heat the water in said tank, a feed back duct leading from said water Vaporizing vchamber to said blower inlet duct,` means to control the ow of air through said heat transfer chamber, means to control the flow of air through said water vaporizing chamber, means to control the flow of air out of said water Vaporizing chamber, and means associated with said last mentioned means to control the Ilow of air through said feed back duct.

l1. In an air conditioning apparatus, a receptacle having a humidifying chamber therein, and having a heat exchange chamber therein, a tank in said air humidifying chamber, said tank having pipes communicating therewith, said pipes passing through said heat exchange chamber, a

second tank below said heat exchange chamber, said pipes communicating with said second tank, means to heat said second tank, a shaft disposed adjacent to said rst mentioned tank, a plurality of spaced disks on said shaft, said disks being adapted to turn in and to be wetted by water' in said first mentioned tank, means to rotate said disks, a blower in said receptacle, an inlet to said blower, means to drive said blower, a passageway extending from said blower to said humidifying chamber, means to control communication through said passageway, a pipe leading from said humidifying chamber to said inlet, a damper in said pipe, means whereby said control means operates said damper, a duct leading from said humidifying chamber, means to control passage from said humidifying chamber to said duct, a passageway leading from said blower to said heat exchange chamber means to control the passage through said last mentioned passageway, a duct leading from said heat exchange chamber, said second duct being disposed within and surrounded by said rst duct.

CHARLES B. COOK. 

